PowerTech Development Podcast

In this episode, Coach Andy and Eric discuss the importance of always being prepared for opportunities in hockey, and life. 

Recounting his trip to Russia training with NHL hall of famer Igor Larionov, Coach Andy goes over some of the keys to his success in getting that opportunity, and how he was able to excel with it. The boys go on to breakdown what it means to be prepared and the action steps you can take to ensure readiness in hockey and beyond.

In this episode, Coach Andy and Eric breakdown the process of seeking help in hockey. 

With the path to success being so difficult, the two discuss where to find help and how to evaluate whether the resource is adequate. They go on to discuss how coaches can make themselves a resource in youth hockey, and how to shape your mentality as a player to find the help you need. Coach Andy also presents several key takeaways from a recent podcast with NHL great Kris Draper. 

In this episode, Coach Andy reads several excerpts from the popular book "The Way Of The Fight" by UFC legend Georges St-Pierre. He and Eric discuss the path St-Pierre took to becoming a champion, focusing mostly on his early stages on development, his mentality as a kid, and the early judgements of his coaches. They go on to contextualize these lessons for young players looking to grow in the sport.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to leave us a review or share the podcast to help support the channel!

In this episode, Coach Andy and Eric breakdown why having a purpose is the key driver to your success. 

As a player, the two discuss how you can define a purpose to nurture your goals. For parents and coaches, they touch on how to facilitate the development of a young athlete by helping them to align with their purpose on the day-to-day.

Coach Stephen DiLustro earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from UMass Lowell, followed by a Masters Degree in Teaching Education from the University of Arizona. Growing up, he partook in all sports until high school where track and field became his main focus.

Drawing inspiration from his uncle who was an avid gym user, Stephen observed early on that the work in the weight room directly transferred to better performance on the track. From there, the fitness industry became his calling and he landed his first Strength & Conditioning job at a local high school. The then went on to work as a Strength Coach at Brown University, University of Arizona, and Stanford University.

Following his time working with various university athletic programs, Coach DiLustro found himself frequently assisting San Jose Sharks Strength Coach Mike Potenza with team related training, eventually leading to a job offer as the Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach in 2018. Coach DiLustro recognizes Potenza as his most influential mentor in Strength & Conditioning.

In this episode, Coach Andy and Eric discuss parenting surrounding youth sports. 

They touch on common problems with the uninformed parent, overanalyzing and over-involvement, and what to look for in trainers and coaches to make sure you are well informed when it comes to your child.

In this episode, Coach Andy sits down with 20-year NHL veteran, Kris Draper. They discuss everything from player development, scouting, parents, and coaching through the lens of Kris' storied carrier. Through his experience in minor, junior, and professional hockey, as well as his role scouting in the Red Wings organization, this interview offers great insights covering all aspects of the game.   

Draper was one of the greatest "finds" in NHL history. He played 1000+ games and 17 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, helping them win the Stanley Cup four times from 1997-2008 -- all after being acquired from the Winnipeg Jets for exactly $1.  

The Jets selected Draper, a centre from Toronto, in the third round (No. 62) of the 1989 NHL Draft after he played the 1988-89 season with Canada's national junior team. He went on to play one more season with Canada, helping it finish first at the 1990 IIHF World Junior Championship.  

Draper retired after the 2010-11 season with 364 points (161 goals, 203 assists) in 1,157 regular-season games, and 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists) in 222 Stanley Cup Playoff games.  

After retiring, Draper remained with the Red Wings in a number of roles, including director of amateur scouting.

In this episode, Coach Andy breakdown the importance of developing simple daily habits to achieve your goals.

The pair introduce the concept of creating “The Slight Edge” for yourself over others – a principle derived from the popular book written by Jeff Olson. In short, creating little habits for yourself that are seemingly insignificant on the day-to-day will make all the difference in the long run.

In this episode we learn what scouts really look for in a player from off-ice behaviour and family life, to on-ice skills and hockey sense. Hear firsthand where the emphasis lies when selecting a player, what background checks are done, and what factors contribute to predicting a player’s potential.

Prior to working in Hockey Operations, Brian worked on the business side of hockey. He earned a degree in Kinesiology and a Masters in Sport Management from the University of Windsor then proceeded to do a year-long internship with the Detroit Red Wings. 

Following his time as an intern, Brian started his career building the corporate sales for the Saginaw Spirit as they were relocated from North Bay. He continued progressing with Saginaw and eventually made a move to Vice President of Hockey Operations with the Sarnia Sting of the OHL. In 2015 Brian went back to Saginaw as the Assistant General Manager and Head Scout and remains in that role today.

In this episode, Coach Andy and Eric sit down to discuss the necessity for quality hours spent honing your craft - or DEEP PRACTICE as some call it. 

Everything from what it means, how to apply it, and what the results will be, are covered in detail. As always, several stories and examples are shared to help illustrate the usefulness of devoting time to deep practice across many domains.